It's been TWO years! Is anybody still here? If so, I want to post an update on my writing/publishing journey up to this point and what's been going down.
The reason it's taken me so long to post an update is because I’ve been really struggling to know how to move forward.
When I first started this journey, I jumped into self-publishing, which included creating my own illustrations using mixed media/scrapbook paper. After I completed my first 2 books, I attended writing conferences and learned a lot more about the publishing world and got word that using paper designs created by other artists (scrapbook paper) may or may not be a copyright issue. This REALLY put a storm cloud over my enthusiasm. The illustrations for those 2 books took so much time and care to complete. Now I didn’t know what to do with them, or how I would do future projects. I also came to understand how traditional publishers may see an author as less attractive who has previously self-published, unless their books have been wildly successful. I had made a profit on my books, but I hadn’t marketed them extensively and they certainly hadn’t sold thousands of copies, which is what publishers want.
So, I decided to put those self-published books to the side and push as hard as I could to get traditionally published. I tried that for several years (where I've been all this time) and I got close on several occasions, but each interaction with an industry professional ended with them suddenly dropping me down the line.
During this time, I also noticed some things about traditional publishing. The stories I felt passionate about telling weren’t in sync with publishing trends/rules and vice versa. I also saw just how political the publishing world (just like everything else) is becoming, and how it’s extending deeply into what authors believe and how they identify politically. Comparing that with self-publishing, I really liked the total creative freedom it offered both for the book and for the ability of the author to be who they are.
I’ve put so much thought into what to do at this point. Continue trying to get traditionally published, or go back to self-publishing?
Right now, I’m working on a book about sisters. I’m doing the illustrations in a new way and I plan to self-publish under my original author (maiden) name Debbie Day. I’m so excited about this project and I’m working hard to do a good job on it and make it as successful as I can. I have many, many other projects I’d also like to self-publish after that. And that’s where my sights are set right now and the path I plan on taking.
I’m still open to the idea of traditional publishing down the road, I just don’t see a path to it right now. But who knows where these upcoming self-published projects will take me? I don’t know, but I feel good about moving forward in this way, and what I do know is that creating stories is my lifelong love and ambition so I’m going to keep working towards it and keep creating!
Important: I started an IG account to document the projects I’m currently working on. Please come follow me at: https://www.instagram.com/debbiedaybooks/
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and stay tuned for more updates as I continue this process. Let’s not give up on the dreams that fill us with joy!
